Korea Tilts Toward Extended Troop Presence in Iraq
By Jung Sung-ki
Staff Reporter
A summit between President Roh Moo-hyun and U.S. President George W. Bush in Sydney last Friday has produced expectations that South Korean troops will stay at least for one more year in Iraq.
In his talks with Bush on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, Roh said he will look for ways to help the United States as a coalition partner in Iraq, Roh's aides said.
Roh made the remarks in response to Bush's praise for the Korean troops' humanitarian and reconstruction operations in the Middle Eastern country.
``I will seek ways to contribute (to the stability in Iraq) through consultations with the National Assembly as the troops' mission expires at the end of the year under a parliamentary motion,'' Roh said.
In a press conference after the summit, Baek Jong-cheon, chief presidential secretary for security affairs, confirmed that the U.S. government asked South Korea to extend the mission of its Zaytun Division in the war-torn country.
``In a report to the Assembly, we are required to answer overall conditions in Iraq. In fact, we have a few ideas on the troops' fate and will seek cooperation on the matter from lawmakers,'' Baek said.
The Ministry of National Defense plans to submit a final report on the termination of the 1,200-strong Zaytun Division stationed in the northern Iraqi city of Irbil for humanitarian and reconstruction works to the Assembly this month.
South Korean troops have contributed to the security and stabilization of Irbil since 2004, when about 3,600 forces were dispatched to the Kurdish-controlled region to support the U.S.-led Operation Iraqi Freedom initiated in 2003. Seoul has been the second largest coalition partner of the United States after the United Kingdom.
In June, the ministry decided to delay the submission of the report, citing ``unclear'' political and security conditions in Iraq.
Brig. Gen. Kim Byoung-gi, deputy director-general of the ministry's international policy bureau, said a final decision will be made in consideration of the new U.S. Iraqi policy and developments with other coalition forces.
Kim also said potential economic benefits from an extended deployment are a factor that can have an influence on the decision whether or not to extend the troops' deployment.
``South Korean firms are expected to join bids to earn oil concessions in the Iraqi region. That's another factor in our decision to delay the troop pullout,'' he said. ``In any case, however, the top priority will be of national interest.''
Potential economic benefits are looming as the Korea National Oil Corp. signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Kurdistan regional government on oil development in January.
In July, 13 South Korean construction companies inked an MOU with the Kurdish government to build highways and hydroelectric dams worth $23.4 billion.
The state-funded Korea Institute for Defense Analysis has already submitted a report calling for extending the troops stay in Iraq, while reducing the their size to 400, citing the alliance with the United States and economic benefits in the future.
The United Kingdom made a similar decision recently. The U.K. government announced last week that 500 British soldiers are being withdrawn from Iraq in stages as part of a long-standing troop reduction plan, as Iraqis assume control of their own security in the south of the country. The United Kingdom aims to maintain 5,000 troops in Iraq.
It is still unclear if Zaytun forces can serve in Iraq for another year because war-weary lawmakers from the pro-government political party and progressive civic groups have pledged to block an extended troop extension.
The opponents argue that projected economic gains are overblown and there is no reason to stay further in Iraq at a time when many other coalition forces are rushing to exit or draw down their military presence.
President Bush is expected to make a major speech this week to defend his Iraq strategy. The White House is to submit a progress report on the conduct of the war in Iraq and the top U.S. commander and diplomat in Iraq are to testify before the Congress.
Bush is expected to defend his unpopular ``surge'' of 30,000 more U.S. troops to the front lines in the war-torn nation.
The four-year U.S. military death toll in Iraq has already reached 3,750, while the British army's death count has mounted to 170, according to reports.